International Journal of Bio-Technology

and Research (IJBTR)

ISSN(P): 2249-6858; ISSN(E): 2249-796X
Vol. 5, Issue 4, Aug 2015, 27-36
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS ON THE PERFORMANCE AND EXHAUST

EMISSIONS OF A DIESEL ENGINE USING JATROPHA OIL AS A FUEL
Dr. J V MURUGALAL JEYAN1 & AKHILA RUPESH2
1
2

Head of the Department, Rajadhani Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kerala, India

PG Scholar, Department of Thermal Engineering, Universal College of Engineering and Technology,

Vallioor, Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT
Efforts are under way in many countries, including India, to search for suitable alternative fuels for diesel that are
environment friendly. The need to search for an alternate fuel arises mainly from the standpoint of preserving the global
environment and the concern about long term supplies of conventional hydrocarbon- based diesel fuels. Bio-diesel is a
domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be used in unmodified diesel engines with the current fuelling
infrastructure. It is safe, biodegradable and reduces serious air pollutants such as soot, particulates, carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbons, and air toxics. Performance, storage requirements and maintenance are similar to bio-diesel blend fuels and
petroleum diesel. In India, Jatropha is found to have favourable agricultural conditions for growth. Its advent is going to
prove very beneficial for the Indian as well as the world market even as fossil fuels demand goes on increasing i.e.,
indirectly proportional to its availability. In this work, Bio-diesel I have produced from Jatropha oil by a chemical process
called Transesterification process. Bio-diesel is blended with the Diesel fuel in various ratios and also used as a sole fuel in
a single cylinder diesel engine. The performance and emission characteristics are studied. In this project work the
suitability of bio-diesel as a better alternative fuel for diesel engine is investigated and established.

KEYWORDS: Experimental Investigations, Bio-diesel, Jatropha Oil

INTRODUCTION
Two main areas of concern to man are pollution control and the discovery of renewable energy sources.
The conservation of vegetable into oil diesel fuel combines both these. The use of vegetable oil as fuel for diesel engines is
not a new concept. Since the invention of the diesel engine, subsequent developments of this engine has been based on the
availability of petroleum-derived diesel fuel, which in turn has been tailored to meet the needs of the current engines. Due
to the availability of the more economic petroleum-derived diesel, the use of vegetable oils as fuels did not come into the
limelight. The use of vegetable oils as fuel depends on the world market prices for mineral products and is therefore of
special interest, at present, only for those countries with excess oil production. At times of acute energy shortage, such as
during World War II in Europe, vegetable oils have been used as fuel, either neat or in blends with diesel fuels. However,
the fuels gave rise to excessive carbonaceous deposits on the cylinders and on the injector nozzles. Basically, three theories
have been postulated to explain the various durability problems that have been observed in the engines run with vegetable
oil. They are:

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28

Dr. J V Murugalal Jeyan & Akhila Rupesh

The high viscosity of vegetable oils results in degraded fuel atomization which in turn results in the observed
durability problems.

The durability problems associated with the use of vegetable oil fuels result directly from the chemical structure
of the oils and the effect of structure on the combustion chemistry.

The durability problems are the result of the incomplete combustion of the fuels, the subsequent reaction of the
fuels and partial combustion products on the metal surfaces and in the lubricating oil.

Although some evidences exists that fuel chemistry affects durability problems, the majority of the evidence
indicates that the high viscosity of the oils is the major factor controlling the onset and severity of the durability
problems. One way of tackling the problem is to reduce the viscosity of the fuel. This can be done by

Adding viscosity depressants.

Forming micro-emulsions of vegetable oils with alcohol and diesel. One such micro-emulsion is a blend of oil
with diesel and ethanol.

Heating the oils prior to injection into the engines.

By forming blends with low viscosity fuels. Such blends have been named as hybrid fuels.

Transesterification of the glyceride.

This project work concentrates on the use of Transesterified vegetable oil, i.e., Bio-diesel, in diesel engine, i.e., to

conduct short-term engine tests on a diesel engine using bio-diesel and also petroleum diesel and to compare the
performance and emission characteristics.

BIO DIESEL
Bio-diesel has defined as the monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable feed stocks, such
as vegetable oil or animal fats, for use in diesel engines. Bio-diesel is commonly composed of fatty acid methyl esters
(FAME) that are prepared from the triglycerides in vegetables oil by transesterification with methanol.

Bio-diesels

contain on petrol, but it can be blended with petroleum or diesel products at any level to create Bio-diesel blend. It can be
used in compression ignition engines with no modification. Bio-diesel is simple to use non toxic and essentially free from
sulphur and aromatics.

WHY BIO-DIESEL?

Cost effective

Sustainable

Safety in handling

Eco-friendly

Renewable

Reduces our depend on foreign petroleum

Impact Factor (JCC): 3.1245

NAAS Rating: 2.75

29

Experimental Investigations on the Performance and Exhaust

Emissions of a Diesel Engine Using Jatropha Oil as a Fuel

Helps for effective utilization of waste lands

Generates employment in rural sector & enriches rural economy

Weather resistance

Clean development mechanism

Fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide

Less acid rain

Effective in management

PARAMETERS DECIDING SUITABILITY AS BIO FUEL

Local availability

Nearness in properties to diesel including calorific value

Suitability of using them in present diesel engine without much modification

Desirable exhaust emission characteristics

Capability to produce the resource cheaply without competing with other agricultural and forest based demands
on land, water and other investments.

Carbon management

Generation of extra value added products there from.

PREPARATION OF BIO-DIESEL
Bio-diesel is produced form the vegetable oil by a chemical process called transesterification process. It is the
process in which the vegetable oil is treated with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst to form ester and glycerol.
This method has been used to reduce the viscosity of the vegetable oil.

Figure 1
The vegetable oil used in the project work is JATROPHA CURCAS OIL and the alcohol used is methanol. Sodium
hydroxide is used as catalyst. The catalyst is first added to the alcohol and dissolved in the alcohol by stirring. The solution
is mixed with the jetrophaoil . the content after mixing thoroughly are heated to temperature of about 55degree and is
maintained at the temperature of about 3 hours with constant stirrings at regular intervals. Then it is allowed to settle down
for 10 to 12 hours. The denser glycerine and soaps settle down and are darken in colour. The methyl esters lighter in colour
are separated. The colour difference between the two layers will enable their easy separation. The soap present in the
methyl ester layer are removed by washing the ester with distilled water. After washing they are allowed to settle down for
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30

Dr. J V Murugalal Jeyan & Akhila Rupesh

3 to 5 hours. With their different densities water is removed and pure methyl is obtained and called BIO-DIESEL.

JATROPHA CURCAS
Jatropha curcas, a shrub or small tree, is planted in tropical and sub tropical countries as a living fence to protect
gardens and fields from animals. It produces small seeds which contain more than 30% of non edible oil.

It needs minimal inputs or management

It has no insects, pests and not browsed by cattle or sheep

Can survive long periods of drought

Propagation is easy

It starts yielding from the 3rd year onwards and contains for 25 to 30 years

The meal after extraction of oil from the seeds can used as excellent organic manure
The extracted, esterified oil can be used in diesel engines directly or blended with diesel as the properties of the

oil matches with that of the diesel and offers various advantages when compared with diesel.

THE YIELD FACTOR

Under normal conditions, jatropha cultivation gives a yield of 2 tones per hectare. This yield of seeds would yield
25-30 percent of oil. That is 100Kg of jatropha yield 25-30 kg of jatropha oil.

THE COST FACTOR

Table 1
EXPENSES
price of the seed
=
4 kg feed
=
For 4 Kg of seed
=
Grinding, dehulling, crushing =
Total
=
BENEFITS
2.5 kg of cake for manure
=
sold at Rs.4.00 per Kg
Shell is sold at
=
Net price of 1Kg of oil
=
=

Rs.7.00 per Kg
1 kg oil (1150ml)
Rs.28.00
Rs.4.00
32.00
Rs.10.00
Rs.2.00
Rs.32-Rs.12
Rs.20.00

After carrying out the esterification process, the cost of one litre of Bio-diesel will increase. The by-products such
as glycerol can be used in soap making and cosmetics. This would reduce the net cost of the Bio-diesel. If mass production
is carried out, the cost of the Bio-diesel can be reduced to a considerable amount.

Density/ Specific Gravity

The bio-diesel produced is slightly heaver than the conventional diesel fuel. This allows splash blending by

adding bio-diesel on top of diesel fuel for making bio-diesel blend. Bio-diesel should always blended at the top of diesel
fuel. If bio-diesel is put at the bottom and then diesel fuel is added , it will not mix.

Impact Factor (JCC): 3.1245

NAAS Rating: 2.75

31

Experimental Investigations on the Performance and Exhaust

Emissions of a Diesel Engine Using Jatropha Oil as a Fuel

Viscosity
Viscosity of bio-diesel is higher than that of diesel fuel. So, when it is used in engines, this may lead to gum

formation on injectors, cylinder liner etc. but, when compared to jatropha oil, the viscosity of bio-diesel is ten times lesser.

Flash Point
The flash point of bio-diesel is high. So, its blending with diesel fuel can utilized in increase the flash point of

diesel fuel, particularly in India flash point is around 40 C which is well bellow the world average of 55 C. This important
from the safety point of view.

Heat of Combustion
The heat of combustion of bio-diesel is slightly lower than the diesel fuel.

Cetane number
Bio-diesel produced has higher cetane number than diesel fuel. This results in higher combustion efficiency and

smoother combustion

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION
Short-term engine tests were performed on kirloskar single cylinder diesel engine and on texvel single cylinder
diesel engine with diesel, bio-diesel, diesel & bio-diesel blends. Performance and emission character are studied.
The test are carried out with,

Pure diesel

95% diesel + 5% bio-diesel(B5)

85% of diesel +15% bio-diesel(B15)

75% o diesel +25% of bio-diesel(B25)

The engine details, apparatus required and experimental procedures are given bellow.

ENGINE SPECIFICATION

Texvel Engine
Table 2

Type

Bore in mm
Stroke in mm
Rated rpm
Rated power out put in KW
Loading type

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Single Cylinder, Vertical,

Four Stroke Cycle,
Water Cooled,
Compression Ignition
Diesel Engine
80
110
1500
6.55
Rope braking

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32

Dr. J V Murugalal Jeyan & Akhila Rupesh

Apparatus Required
Stop clock used to find the time required for the consumption of 10cc of fuel, hand tachometer to measure the

speed of the engine, KANE-MAY ( KM-900) combustion analyzer and MAESTER 2000- exhaust gas analyzer to measure
the exhaust gas emissions such as CO and NOx.

Precautions
The following precaution was taken before starting and after the end of the experiment.
Before starting, the fuel supply and the lubricant oil level were checked. Starting auxiliaries were checked and

engine was ensured to be on no load. The crank key is removed carefully after the engine was started. The engine is made
to run at rated speed. At the end of the experiment all the loads are gradually removed from the engine and after stopping
fuel oil supply is closed from the service tank.

Formula Used

Brake power = (2NW Re)/ (60*103) in KW

Where W- Load applied in Newton.

Total fuel consumption (TFC) = (X*3600*0.833)/ (t*1000) in Kg/hr

Where t- Time taken for 25 ml fuel consumption

Specific gravity of diesel = 0.833.

Specific fuel consumption (SFC) = TFC/B.P in Kg/ KW-hr

Indicated power (I.P) = B.P + F.P in KW

Mechanical efficiency (mech) = B.P/I.P in %

TEST PROCEDURE
The standard test procedure with all precautions was used and performance test was carried out. The times taken
for the consumption of 25 cc of fuel and exhaust emission values are noted.
The brake power, total fuel consumption, specific fuel consumption, indicated power mechanical efficiency is
calculated from the observed values.

CONVENTIONAL DIESEL
Table 3: Performance Data and Emission Data
Sl.
No

Speed
(N)
RPM

Applied
Load
(Kg)

1
2
3
4
5
6

1100
1100
1100
1300
1300
1300

5
10
15
5
10
15

Impact Factor (JCC): 3.1245

Time Taken
for 25 Cc Fuel
Consumption
in Sec
192.00
162.00
138.00
172.00
138.00
112.00

TFC
(Kg/Hr)

Brake
Power
K.W

S.F.C
(Kg/Kwhr)

I.P
(Kw)

Mech
(%)

Nox
(Ppm)

CO
%

0.3900
0.4620
0.5430
0.4350
0.5430
0.6690

1.7540
3.5090
5.2630
2.0730
4.1470
6.2200

0.2220
0.1310
0.1030
0.2090
0.1300
0.1070

4.2540
6.0090
7.7640
4.5730
6.6470
8.7200

41.23
58.39
67.78
44.56
62.38
71.33

1420
1920
2160
1460
1580
2020

0.14
0.12
0.11
0.13
0.11
0.10

NAAS Rating: 2.75

33

Experimental Investigations on the Performance and Exhaust

Emissions of a Diesel Engine Using Jatropha Oil as a Fuel

7
8
9

1500
1500
1500

5
10
15

138.00
102.00
78.00

Table 4: Contd.,
0.543
2.3920
0.7350 4.7850
0.9610 7.1780

0.2270
0.1530
0.1330

4.8920
7.2850
9.6780

48.89
69.68
74.16

1200
1560
1780

0.14
0.13
0.11

BIO-DIESEL
Table 5

Sl.
No
1
2
3

Sl.
No
1
2
3

Sl.No
1
2
3

Sl.
No
1
2
3

Sl.
No
1
2
3

Sl.
No
1
2
3

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At 1100 Rpm Performance Tabulation For Diesel + 5% Jatropha Oil

Time Taken
Applied
Brake
Mech
for 25 Cc Fuel
TFC
S.F.C
I.P
Load
Power
Consumption (Kg/Hr)
(Kg/Kwhr) (Kw)
(%)
(Kg)
K.W
in Sec
5
200.00
0.3748 1.7546
0.2136
4.2140 41.20
10
180.00
0.4165 3.5092
0.1186
6.0090 58.30
15
144.00
0.5206 5.2638
0.0989
7.7638 67.79
At 1300 Rpm Performance Tabulation for Diesel + 5% Jatropha Oil
Time Taken
Applied
Brake
Mech
for 25 Cc Fuel
TFC
S.F.C
I.P
Load
Power
Consumption (Kg/Hr)
(Kg/Kwhr) (Kw)
(%)
(Kg)
K.W
in Sec
5
180.00
0.4165 2.0736
0.2008
4.5736 45.33
10
144.00
0.5206 4.1473
0.1255
6.6437 62.39
15
116.12
0.6452 6.2209
0.1037
8.7209 71.33
At 1500 Rpm Performance Tabulation for Diesel + 5% Jatropha Oil
Time Taken
Applied
Brake
Mech
for 25 Cc Fuel
TFC
S.F.C
I.P
Load
Power
Consumption (Kg/Hr)
(Kg/Kwhr) (Kw)
(%)
(Kg)
K.W
in Sec
5
144.00
0.5206 2.3926
0.2175
4.8926 48.90
10
109.09
0.6872 4.7853
0.1496
7.2853 65.68
15
90.00
0.8330 7.1780
0.1160
9.6780 74.16
At 1100 Rpm Performance Tabulation for Diesel + 15% Jatropha Oil
Time Taken
Applied
Brake
Mech
for 25 Cc Fuel
TFC
S.F.C
I.P
Load
Power
Consumption (Kg/Hr)
(Kg/Kwhr) (Kw)
(%)
(Kg)
K.W
in Sec
5
189.47
.3956
1.7546
.2254
4.2590 41.20
10
150
.4998
3.5092
.1424
6.0090 58.30
15
102.85
.7289
5.2638
.1384
7.7638 67.79
At 1300 Rpm Performance Tabulation for Diesel + 15% Jatropha Oil
Time Taken
Applied
Brake
Mech
for 25 Cc Fuel
TFC
S.F.C
I.P
Load
Power
Consumption (Kg/Hr)
(Kg/Kwhr) (Kw)
(%)
(Kg)
K.W
in Sec
5
133.33
.5622
2.0736
.2711
4.5736 45.33
10
112.50
.6664
4.1473
.1606
6.6473 62.39
15
90
.8330
6.2209
.1339
8.7209 71.33
At 1500 Rpm Performance Tabulation for Diesel + 15% Jatropha Oil
Time Taken
Applied
Brake
Mech
for 25 Cc Fuel
TFC
S.F.C
I.P
Load
Power
Consumption (Kg/Hr)
(Kg/Kwhr) (Kw)
(%)
(Kg)
K.W
in Sec
5
109.09
.6872
2.3926
.2872
4.8926 48.90
10
87.80
.8538
4.7853
.1784
7.2853 65.68
15
70.58
1.0620 7.1780
.1479
9.6780 74.16

Nox
(Ppm)

CO
%

1084
1420
1718

0.09
0.08
0.07

Nox
(Ppm)

CO
%

1016
1228
1541

0.09
0.08
0.08

Nox
(Ppm)

CO
%

670
1002
1218

0.10
0.09
0.09

Nox
(Ppm)

CO
%

1221
1625
1900

.10
.09
.09

Nox
(Ppm)

CO
%

1130
1365
1650

.10
.09
.09

Nox
(Ppm)

CO
%

840
1266
1433

.11
.10
.10

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34

Dr. J V Murugalal Jeyan & Akhila Rupesh

PERFORMANCE CURVES

0.12

0.1

0.1

Diesel +5%
Jatropa

0.04

Diesel +15%
Jatropa

0.06
0.04

Diesel +25%
Jatropa

0.02

0.08

10

15

Diesel +15%
Jatropa

0.06

Diesel +25%
Jatropa

0.04
0.02

0
5

Diesel +5%
Jatropa

0.1

Diesel +25%
Jatropa

0.02

0.12

Diesel +5%
Jatropa

0.08
CO %

CO %

Diesel +15%
Jatropa

0.06

0.14

CO %

0.12

0.08

CO Emission at 1500 RPM

CO Emission at 1300 RPM

CO Emission at 1100 RPM

0
5

Load (kg)

10

15

Load (kg)

Mechanical Efficiency at 1100 RPM

80

M e c h a n ic a l E ffic ie n c y (% )

M e c h a n ic a l E ffic ie n c y (% )

15

Mechanical Efficiency at 1500 RPM

80
70

70

60

60

50

Diesel +5% Jatropa

40

Diesel +15% Jatropa

30

Diesel +25% Jatropa

20

50

Diesel +5% Jatropa

40

Diesel +15% Jatropa

30

Diesel +25% Jatropa

20

10

10

10

15

10

Load (kg)

NOx Emission at 1500 RPM

NOx Emission at 1300 RPM

2000

Diesel +15% Jatropa

1000

Diesel +25% Jatropa

N O x (p p m )

N O x (p p m )

1500
Diesel +5% Jatropa

1500

Diesel +5% Jatropa

1000

Diesel +15% Jatropa

Diesel +25% Jatropa

500

500
0

0
15

Load (kg)

10

Diesel +25% Jatropa

15

10

0.4
0.35

Diesel +5% Jatropa

0.15

Diesel +15% Jatropa

0.1

Diesel +25% Jatropa

0.05

S F C (k g /k w h r )

0.2

0.3

0.25

Diesel +5% jatropa

0.2

Diesel +15% Jatropa

0.15

Diesel +25% Jatropa

0.1

15

Load (kg)

Impact Factor (JCC): 3.1245

0.3

0.25

Diesel +5% Jatropa

0.2

Diesel +15% Jatropa

0.15

Diesel +255 Jatropa

0.1

0.05

0.05
0

SFC at 1500 RPM

0.4

0.25

15

Load (kg)

0.35

0.3

10

Diesel +15% Jatropa

SFC at 1300 RPM

SFC at 1100 RPM

Diesel +5% Jatropa

Load (kg)

S F C (k g / k w h r )

10

1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0

N O x (p p m )

2000

2500

15

Load (kg)

NOx Emission at 1100 RPM

S F C (k g /k w h r)

10
Load (kg)

0
5

10
Load (kg)

15

10

15

Load (kg)

NAAS Rating: 2.75

35

Experimental Investigations on the Performance and Exhaust

Emissions of a Diesel Engine Using Jatropha Oil as a Fuel
TFC at 1300 RPM

TFC at 1100 RPM

TFC at 1500 RPM

1.4

1.2

Diesel +15% Jatropa

0.4

Diesel +25% Jatropa

T F C (k g / h r )

Diesel +5% Jatropa

0.6

0.8
0.6

Diesel +15% Jatropa

0.4

Diesel +25% Jatropa

0.2

0.2

0
5

10

15

Diesel +5% jatropa

T F C (k g / h r )

1.2

T F C (k g / h r )

1
0.8

1
Diesel +5% Jatropa

0.8

Diesel +15% Jatropa

0.6

Diesel +25% Jatropa

0.4
0.2
0

Load (kg)

10

15

load (kg)

10

15

Load (kg)

Figure 2

CONCLUSIONS
From the test conducted on the single cylinder Diesel Engine of the make TEXVEL, without any engine
modification. The blend of 5%, 15% and 25% of Jatropha oil is recommended for the following reasons.

High mechanical efficiency.

Exhaust gases are well within the EURO 1 emission standard.

There is no knocking of engine, hence no damage to the engine.

There is around 10% to 20% cost effective than conventional diesel.

FURTHER SCOPE

Test for longer periods can be conducted to access the impact on life of the engine.

Engine modifications such as change in design of atomizer nozzle, using fuel pre-heater for pure oil can improve
efficiency.

Esterified oils can be used and tested for better results.

Similar tests can be carried out on other vegetable oils such as Cotton seed oil, Soya beans oil, Drum stick oil,

REFERENCES
1.

Nwafor. Emission characteristics of diesel enginerunning on vegetable oil with elevated fuel inlettemperature,
Biomass and Bio energy journal, 27(2004) 507 511

2.

Recep Alton, Selimetinkaya b, HuseyinSerdar Y. Thepotential of using vegetable oil fuels as fuel for
dieselengines, elsvier, Energy Conversion and Management42 (2001) 529538

3.

Reijnders L. Conditions for the sustainability ofbiomass based fuel use. Energy policy 2006;34:863-76.

4.

B.K. Barnwal, M.P. Sharma. Prospects of biodieselproduction from vegetable oils in India, elsvier,Renewable and
Sustainable Energy Reviews, 9 (2005)363378

5.

P.V. Krishna Murthy., C.M. Vara Prasad., A.V. SitaRama Raju., M.V.S. Murali Krishna., A ComparativeStudy on
Exhaust Emissions From High Grade LowHeat Rejection Diesel Engine With Crude JatrophaOil.International

www.tjprc.org

editor@tjprc.org

36

Dr. J V Murugalal Jeyan & Akhila Rupesh

Journal of Engineering Studies Volume 1,Number 1 (2009), pp. 2530

6.

R. K. Henning, Combating Desertification: TheJatropha project of Mali, West Africa, Arid LandsNewsletter,
Fall/Winter 1996, Issue No. 40, pp. 1-5

7.

J. Sheehan, V. Camobreco, J. Duffield, M. Graboski, H.Shapouri, Life Cycle Inventory of Biodiesel andPetroleum
Diesel for Use in an Urban Bus, Report,Midwest Research Institute, 1998, pp. 98 107

8.

Joshi, H. C., Biodiesel from Jatropha an AlternativeFuel for the Future, Invention Intelligence, ScientificResearch
Magazine, National Research DevelopmentCorporation New Delhi, Sep.-Oct. 2003, pp. 205-216

9.

Y.V.HanumanthaRao, Ram SudheerVoleti ,A.V.SitaramaRaju and P.Nageswara Reddy JatrophaOil Methyl Ester
And Its Blends Used As AnAlternative Fuel In Diesel Engine. thermal Science:

10. DevendraVashist et al. Comparative Study of Castorand Jatropha Oil Source And Its Methyl Ester Test OnThe
Diesel Engine.

Impact Factor (JCC): 3.1245

NAAS Rating: 2.75